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(MMMGI') 1. H. WESTGATE.

DRE$S SKIRT.

No. 343,974. Patented June 15, 1886.

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NITED STATES PATENT rrica,

IDA H. VVESTGATE, OF WORCESTER, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HORACE GRANT, OF SAME PLACE.

DRESS-SKI RT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 343,974, dated June 15, 1886.

Application filed July 6, 1885. Serial No. 170,738.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known thatI, IDA H. \VESTGATE, of Worcester, county of Worcester, and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Dress-Skirts, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like letters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention has for its object to improve the set of dress-skirts and obviate the employment of crinoline extending to or near the bot tom of the skirt.

In accordance with my invention the skirt for a short distance from its bottom edge, and,

preferably, inside the regular lining, is provided with a facing composed of two plies of cloth, between which, but close together, are stitched stiffened cords, the said facing being extended around the front of the skirt and along the sides,and preferably about the back of the skirt; but, if desired, the cords of the V facing may be omitted at the back of the skirt, and any usual dress or train protector be used.

My improved facing takes the place of the usual facing, and is in no sense a dress-protector, to come in contact with the door or pavement and prevent wear of the lower edge of the skirt. 0 In another application, Serial No. 123,970, filed March 12,1884, Ihave shown and claimed a dress-facing provided with a stiffened waterproof cord; but herein the said cord is not water-proof.

My invention consists of a dress-skirt pro- .vided about its front and along its sides with a facing composed oftwo plies of material with stiffened cords stitched between them.

Figure 1 represents a skirt provided with my improved facing, the skirt as well as the facing being partially broken out to better show the construction thereof. Fig. 2 is an enlarged d etail of a portion of a dress-skirt with my improved facing added.

(No model.)

The skirt A, of any usual materiahand hav 5 ing, preferably, a lining, A, has the corded facing B stitched to its lower end by a row of stitches, a, and the facing is then turned up within the skirt, as in Figs. 1 and 2, the upper edge of the facing being run onto the lining o Aby Stitches 1). The corded facing is composed, preferably, of one ply, c, of rather stiff fabric, and a second ply, c, of drilling or other usual facing material, the two plies being attached together at intervals by parallel rows 5 5 of stitches, making pockets, in which are secured cords d,pre1erably stiffened by a preparation of shellac or glue.

A dress-skirt having a corded facing, such as described, extended about its lower end at front and sides will hang or set evenly Without the necessity of crinoline, and will keep its shape much better than with any other facing known to me.

I claim- 1. Adressskirt combined with afacingcomposed of two plies of material, one of which is of stiff fabric, said plies having a series ofstiffened cords stitched between them, and the said facing being extended about the front and sides of the dress, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination, with the dress-skirtA and its lining A, of the stiffening-facing B, composed of two plies of material, one ofsaid plies being of stiff fabric, said plies having a series of stiffened cords secured between them, and the said facing being attached to the skirt by the rows of stitchesaand b,the former at the lower edge of the facing and the latter at some distance above said cords, as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

IDA H. \VESTGATE.

Witnesses:

G. W. GREGORY, W. H. SIesToN. 

